Design and Control of Power Converters 2019

In this book, 20 papers focused on different fields of power electronics are gathered. Approximately half of the papers are focused on different control issues and techniques, ranging from the computer-aided design of digital compensators to more specific approaches such as fuzzy or sliding control techniques. The rest of the papers are focused on the design of novel topologies. The fields in which these controls and topologies are applied are varied: MMCs, photovoltaic systems, supercapacitors and traction systems, LEDs, wireless power transfer, etc

Design and Implementation of Control Techniques of Power Electronic Interfaces for Photovoltaic Power Systems

The aim of this thesis is to scrutinize and develop four state-of-the-art power electronics converter control techniques utilized in various photovoltaic (PV) power conversion schemes accounting for maximum power extraction and efficiency. First, Cascade Proportional and Integral (PI) Controller-Based Robust Model Reference Adaptive Control (MRAC) of a DC-DC boost converter has been designed and investigated. Non-minimum phase behaviour of the boost converter due to right half plane zero constitutes a challenge and its non-linear dynamics complicate the control process while operating in continuous conduction mode (CCM). The proposed control scheme efficiently resolved complications and challenges by using features of cascade PI control loop in combination with properties of MRAC. The accuracy of the proposed control system’s ability to track the desired signals and regulate the plant process variables in the most beneficial and optimised way without delay and overshoot is verified. The experimental results and analysis reveal that the proposed control strategy enhanced the tracking speed two times with considerably improved disturbance rejection. Second, (P)roportional Gain (R)esonant and Gain Scheduled (P)roportional (PR-P) Controller has been designed and investigated. The aim of this controller is to create a variable perturbation size real-time adaptive perturb and observe (P&O) maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm. The proposed control scheme resolved the drawbacks of conventional P&O MPPT method associated with the use of constant perturbation size that leads to a poor transient response and high continuous steady-state oscillations. The prime objective of using the PR-P controller is to utilize inherited properties of the signal produced by the controller’s resonant path and integrate it to update best estimated perturbation that represents the working principle of extremum seeking control (ESC) to use in a P&O algorithm that characterizes the overall system learning-based real time adaptive (RTA). Additionally, utilization of internal dynamics of the PR-P controller overcome the challenges namely, complexity, computational burden, implantation cost and slow tracking performance in association with commonly used soft computing intelligent systems and adaptive control strategies. The experimental results and analysis reveal that the proposed control strategy enhanced the tracking speed five times with reduced steady-state oscillations around maximum power point (MPP) and more than 99% energy extracting efficiency.Third, the interleaved buck converter based photovoltaic (PV) emulator current control has been investigated. A proportional-resonant-proportional (PR-P) controller is designed to resolve the drawbacks of conventional PI controllers in terms of phase management which means balancing currents evenly between active phases to avoid thermally stressing and provide optimal ripple cancellation in the presence of parameter uncertainties. The proposed controller shows superior performance in terms of 10 times faster-converging transient response, zero steady-state error with significant reduction in current ripple. Equal load sharing that constitutes the primary concern in multi-phase converters has been achieved with the proposed controller. Implementing of robust control theory involving comprehensive time and frequency domain analysis reveals 13% improvement in the robust stability margin and 12-degree bigger phase toleration with the PR-P controller. Fourth, a symmetrical pole placement Method-based Unity Proportional Gain Resonant and Gain Scheduled Proportional (PR-P) Controller has been designed and investigated. The proposed PR-P controller resolved the issues associated with the use of the PI controller which are tracking repeating control input signal with zero steady-state and mitigating the 3rd order harmonic component injected into the grid for single-phase PV systems. Additionally, the PR-P controller has overcome the drawbacks of frequency detuning in the grid and increase in the magnitude of odd number harmonics in the system that constitute the common concerns in the implementation of conventional PR controller. Moreover, the unprecedented design process based on changing notch filter dynamics with symmetrical pole placement around resonant frequency overcomes the limitations that are essentially complexity and dependency on the precisely modelled system. The verification and validation process of the proposed control schemes has been conducted using MATLAB/Simulink and implementing MATLAB/Simulink/State flow on dSPACE Real-time-interface (RTI) 1007 processor, DS2004 High-Speed A/D and CP4002 Timing and Digital I/O boards

Design of module level converters in photovoltaic power systems

The application of distributed maximum power point tracking (DMPPT) technology in solar photovoltaic (PV) systems is a hot topic in industry and academia. In the PV industry, grid integrated power systems are mainstream. The main objective for PV system design is to increase energy conversion efficiency and decrease the levelized cost of electricity of PV generators. This thesis firstly presents an extensive review of state-of-the-art PV technologies. With focus on grid integrated PV systems research, various aspects covered include PV materials, conventional full power processing DMPPT architectures, main MPPT techniques, and traditional partial power processing DMPPT architectures. The main restrictions to applying traditional DMPPT architectures in large power systems are discussed. A parallel connected partial power processing DMPPT architecture is proposed aiming to overcome existing restrictions. With flexible ‘plug-and-play’ functionality, the proposed architecture can be readily expanded to supply a downstream inverter stage or dc network. By adopting smaller module integrated converters, the proposed approach provides a possible efficiency improvement and cost reduction. The requirements for possible converter candidates and control strategies are analysed. One representative circuit scheme is presented as an example to verify the feasibility of the design. An electromagnetic transient model is built for different power scale PV systems to verify the DMPPT feasibility of the evaluated architecture in a large-scale PV power system. Voltage boosting ability is widely needed for converters in DMPPT applications. Impedance source converters (ISCs) are the main converter types with step-up ability. However, these converters have a general problem of low order distortion when applied in dc-ac applications. To solve this problem, a generic plug-in repetitive control strategy for a four-switch three-phase ISC type inverter configuration is developed. Simulation and experimental results confirm that this control strategy is suitable for many ISC converters.The application of distributed maximum power point tracking (DMPPT) technology in solar photovoltaic (PV) systems is a hot topic in industry and academia. In the PV industry, grid integrated power systems are mainstream. The main objective for PV system design is to increase energy conversion efficiency and decrease the levelized cost of electricity of PV generators. This thesis firstly presents an extensive review of state-of-the-art PV technologies. With focus on grid integrated PV systems research, various aspects covered include PV materials, conventional full power processing DMPPT architectures, main MPPT techniques, and traditional partial power processing DMPPT architectures. The main restrictions to applying traditional DMPPT architectures in large power systems are discussed. A parallel connected partial power processing DMPPT architecture is proposed aiming to overcome existing restrictions. With flexible ‘plug-and-play’ functionality, the proposed architecture can be readily expanded to supply a downstream inverter stage or dc network. By adopting smaller module integrated converters, the proposed approach provides a possible efficiency improvement and cost reduction. The requirements for possible converter candidates and control strategies are analysed. One representative circuit scheme is presented as an example to verify the feasibility of the design. An electromagnetic transient model is built for different power scale PV systems to verify the DMPPT feasibility of the evaluated architecture in a large-scale PV power system. Voltage boosting ability is widely needed for converters in DMPPT applications. Impedance source converters (ISCs) are the main converter types with step-up ability. However, these converters have a general problem of low order distortion when applied in dc-ac applications. To solve this problem, a generic plug-in repetitive control strategy for a four-switch three-phase ISC type inverter configuration is developed. Simulation and experimental results confirm that this control strategy is suitable for many ISC converters

Power Converters in Power Electronics

In recent years, power converters have played an important role in power electronics technology for different applications, such as renewable energy systems, electric vehicles, pulsed power generation, and biomedical sciences. Power converters, in the realm of power electronics, are becoming essential for generating electrical power energy in various ways. This Special Issue focuses on the development of novel power converter topologies in power electronics. The topics of interest include, but are not limited to: Z-source converters; multilevel power converter topologies; switched-capacitor-based power converters; power converters for battery management systems; power converters in wireless power transfer techniques; the reliability of power conversion systems; and modulation techniques for advanced power converters

Hybrid Electric Distributed Propulsion for Vertical Takeoff and Landing Aircraft

This research effort explores the interactions between aerodynamics and hybridelectric power system (HEPS) design and control for vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft applications. Specifically, this research focuses on embedded distributed electric propulsion systems, for which the aerodynamic forces and moments are inextricably linked to power input. This effort begins by characterizing the performance of two similar embedded propulsion systems using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). From this initial analysis, a wind tunnel model is constructed and the systems are tested across the operating conditions required to characterize the performance of a VTOL aircraft, where 0 deg ≤ α ≤ 90 deg. One of these configurations is selected for evaluating the interaction with the hybrid-power system. An experimental HEPS is constructed based on a small two-stroke internal combustion engine as well, with a rated continuous power output of 2kW. This experiment is used to develop a validated dynamical HEPS model in MATLAB and Simulink, where the control systems are refined and the performance of the system is extended to accommodate the VTOL power demand during transitional flight. A robust control design is developed using a second order sliding mode controller (2-SMC), implemented using the super-twisting algorithm and integrated with classical linear control schemes in an interleaved-cascade architecture. The resulting system has a variable voltage output and a robust response to rapid changes in power demand. Additionally, the HEPS is also demonstrated to fully utilize the mechanical power output capability of the two-stroke engine. Ultimately, the HEPS is demonstrated, via the dynamical model, to be capable of supplying power for an embedded propulsion VTOL aircraft. This performance is further extended with the addition of an actively controlled slack bus, utilizing battery energy storage and a buck-converter integrated with the HEPS control system. In this configuration, the peak power demands of the system can exceed the maximum sustained power threshold (MSPT) of the HEPS

Power Quality

Electrical power is becoming one of the most dominant factors in our society. Power generation, transmission, distribution and usage are undergoing signifi cant changes that will aff ect the electrical quality and performance needs of our 21st century industry. One major aspect of electrical power is its quality and stability – or so called Power Quality. The view on Power Quality did change over the past few years. It seems that Power Quality is becoming a more important term in the academic world dealing with electrical power, and it is becoming more visible in all areas of commerce and industry, because of the ever increasing industry automation using sensitive electrical equipment on one hand and due to the dramatic change of our global electrical infrastructure on the other. For the past century, grid stability was maintained with a limited amount of major generators that have a large amount of rotational inertia. And the rate of change of phase angle is slow. Unfortunately, this does not work anymore with renewable energy sources adding their share to the grid like wind turbines or PV modules. Although the basic idea to use renewable energies is great and will be our path into the next century, it comes with a curse for the power grid as power fl ow stability will suff er. It is not only the source side that is about to change. We have also seen signifi cant changes on the load side as well. Industry is using machines and electrical products such as AC drives or PLCs that are sensitive to the slightest change of power quality, and we at home use more and more electrical products with switching power supplies or starting to plug in our electric cars to charge batt eries. In addition, many of us have begun installing our own distributed generation systems on our rooft ops using the latest solar panels. So we did look for a way to address this severe impact on our distribution network. To match supply and demand, we are about to create a new, intelligent and self-healing electric power infrastructure. The Smart Grid. The basic idea is to maintain the necessary balance between generators and loads on a grid. In other words, to make sure we have a good grid balance at all times. But the key question that you should ask yourself is: Does it also improve Power Quality? Probably not! Further on, the way how Power Quality is measured is going to be changed. Traditionally, each country had its own Power Quality standards and defi ned its own power quality instrument requirements. But more and more international harmonization efforts can be seen. Such as IEC 61000-4-30, which is an excellent standard that ensures that all compliant power quality instruments, regardless of manufacturer, will produce of measurement instruments so that they can also be used in volume applications and even directly embedded into sensitive loads. But work still has to be done. We still use Power Quality standards that have been writt en decades ago and don’t match today’s technology any more, such as fl icker standards that use parameters that have been defi ned by the behavior of 60-watt incandescent light bulbs, which are becoming extinct. Almost all experts are in agreement - although we will see an improvement in metering and control of the power fl ow, Power Quality will suff er. This book will give an overview of how power quality might impact our lives today and tomorrow, introduce new ways to monitor power quality and inform us about interesting possibilities to mitigate power quality problems. Regardless of any enhancements of the power grid, “Power Quality is just compatibility” like my good old friend and teacher Alex McEachern used to say. Power Quality will always remain an economic compromise between supply and load. The power available on the grid must be suffi ciently clean for the loads to operate correctly, and the loads must be suffi ciently strong to tolerate normal disturbances on the grid

Modeling and control of single-stage quadratic-boost split source inverters

This paper aims to develop the recently introduced Spilt-Source Inverter (SSI) topology to improve its boosting characteristics. New SSI topologies with high voltage gain are introduced in this paper. The proposed converters square the basic SSI’s boosting factor by utilizing an additional inductor, capacitor, and two diodes. Thus, the proposed converters are called Quadratic-Boost (or Square-Boost) SSIs (QBIs or SBIs). Four different QBI topologies are presented. One with continuous input current (CC-QBI), and the other draws a discontinuous input current (DC-QBI) but with reduced capacitor voltage stresses. This paper also introduces the small-signal model of the CC-QBI using state variables perturbance. Based on this model, the closed-loop voltage and current control approach of the dc-boosting factor are designed. Moreover, a modified space vector modulation (MSVM) scheme is presented to reduce the input current ripples. To evaluate the performance of the proposed topologies, a comparative study between them and the other counterpart from different perspectives is introduced. It can be found that the CC-QBI topology has superior boosting characteristics when operating with low input voltage compared with their counterparts. It has a higher boosting capability, lower capacitor voltages, and semiconductor stresses, especially when high voltage gains are required. These merits make the proposed topologies convenient to the Photovoltaic and Fuel-Cell systems. Finally, the feasibility of the suggested topology and the introduced mathematical model is verified via simulation and experimental results, which show good accordance with the theoretical analysis. AuthorScopu

Recent Advances in Robust Control

Robust control has been a topic of active research in the last three decades culminating in H_2/H_\infty and \mu design methods followed by research on parametric robustness, initially motivated by Kharitonov's theorem, the extension to non-linear time delay systems, and other more recent methods. The two volumes of Recent Advances in Robust Control give a selective overview of recent theoretical developments and present selected application examples. The volumes comprise 39 contributions covering various theoretical aspects as well as different application areas. The first volume covers selected problems in the theory of robust control and its application to robotic and electromechanical systems. The second volume is dedicated to special topics in robust control and problem specific solutions. Recent Advances in Robust Control will be a valuable reference for those interested in the recent theoretical advances and for researchers working in the broad field of robotics and mechatronics